New & Noteworthy in the West

California
North Star Resort in Truckee will host the Nordic SuperTour event, a premier cross-country race series, on March 18. This spectator-friendly race is open to all ages and will begin and end in the Village of North Star, convenient to the resort’s 35 unique shops and restaurants and the 9,000- square foot ice skating rink. Making a scorching debut this winter is All Fired Up! pottery-making studio, one of many quaint village shops. Visitors enjoy the resort’s 93 ski trails and award-winning alpine terrain, perfect for snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. (800-466-6784, northstarattahoe.com)

Squaw Valley USA now has improved lighting on Rivera Terrain Park and half-pipe so that winter sports enthusiasts can extend chilly fun until 9 p.m. on weekends…..

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Tired of Hitting the Slopes Alone?

By Keith L. Fanta, President, Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council

Years ago I found myself in a unique situation where I loved to ski, but none of my friends were skiers. I managed to get out to the slopes, but being alone I knew I was missing something. Skiing isn’t a team sport, but I could see that it had an important social aspect. Then I discovered my first ski club (in the days before boarding became popular, they were known only as ski clubs).

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Come On In, The Water’s Fine

By Rick Heinz, Editor, Midwest Skier Magazine
While representing my club at ski and snowboard shows, I’d frequently be asked by other people in their 20s, “What ages are your club members?” The truth they’re trying to dig up is that the majority of members are baby boomers. It is true for just about all the clubs, but it is not a reason to shy away.

Ski and snowboard clubs might not appear to be the idyllic social outlets for us millenials, but if you’re passionate about the sports, it is really the best way to enjoy them aside from moving out West. Clubs do all the hard work for you by getting lift tickets, plane tickets, lodging and ground transportation. They also save you money by taking advantage of group rates. Since clubs aren’t around to make a profit, the savings are passed down to the members.

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2009/2010 Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council Associate Members

The Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council (CMSC) has Associate Members across the country, ready to offer their assistance and expertise while planning your next ski group vacation. From resort contacts, to sports medicine professionals, to “where-to-get-your-gear,” Associate Members of the CMSC come from a vast array of disciplines.
No matter what your question, the Associate Members of the CMSC are always on hand to help make your next group ski excursion the best one yet. A comprehensive list of North American members can be found here: CMSC List

Midwest New and Noteworthy

Michigan:

Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls is celebrating 60 years of winter fun throughout the 2008/09 season. A big improvement at Boyne is replacement of the Meadows Chairlift with a higher speed, fixed grip, conveyor load lift. This lift not only travels faster than the original, it’s easier to load thanks to a conveyor belt system, giving riders a seamless transition from snow to seat. The new lift also extends further down the slope requiring less traversing from the south end of the mountain. Boyne Mountain has added additional Boyne Low E Fan Guns. These snowmaking guns will make more snow as well as a higher quality snow with less moisture content, all this while using less energy.

In addition, Boyne built an all-new facility for the SnowSports Academy children’s programs, select junior rental equipment and Playcare at the base of Boyneland. The ski area expanded glade skiing terrain north of Disciples and Superbowl trails. Precision select-cutting over the last two years has created over seven acres of additional tree skiing/riding terrain. Contact: 800-462-6963, boyne.com.

Rated one of the “Top 10 Ski Resorts in the Midwest” by SnoCountry, Shanty Creek Resorts in Michigan has completed a $10-million renovation and redecoration project involving the hotel’s guest rooms, public areas and function space. The renovations temporarily closed the Summit Mountain slopes during the 2007-2008 season. Summit Mountain’s 12 slopes will be open this winter with several upgrades to the mountain taking place, including terrain upgrades and equipment upgrades. The Summit Mountain’s most popular slope, Greenway, was widened and expanded for the season’s opening. Summit Mountain will also have more snow this winter with all-new snowmaking equipment.

At the nearby Schuss Mountain, the halfpipe was moved and enlarged, increasing the overall length and width of the pipe. The tubing park was moved to the backside of Schuss Mountain and enlarged with more and longer lanes. Located on 4,500 acres, Shanty Creek offers 49 downhill skiing slopes on two mountains and 21 kilometers of Nordic ski trails, seven miles of maintained mountain bike and nature trails, and snowboarding and tubing parks. Contact: 800-678-4111, shantycreek.com.

The owner of Indianhead Mountain Resort in Wakefield, Mich. has announced plans to acquire the assets of nearby Big Powderhorn and Blackjack ski resorts. The deal combining three of the best known ski resorts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is expected to close by year end.
Barry Bolich, general manger of Indianhead, said, “We are extremely excited about the opportunity to operate these resorts as a single business. We already have the best snow, and together we would have the best terrain and the most runs, and the ability to offer all of this in a seamless one-ticket package.”
Indianhead Mountain is an “upsidedown” ski resort with its village and facilities located at the top of the mountain.
“Our guests love the fact that they do not have to wait in line or ride a lift to take the first run of the day,” Bolich said. “They usually pause to take in the view and then head down the mountain.”

The resort’s Sky Bar and Grille takes full advantage of the 35-mile panoramic view with large windows and a deck looking out over the Ottawa National Forest. Guests can also take in the view from many of the lodging units.

Indianhead Mountain Resort is a four-season resort offering 29 downhill skiing slopes, snowboarding and an average of 17 feet of snow per year. Contact: 906-229-2200, indianheadmtn.com.

Big Powderhorn this year brings back regularly scheduled racing, with Sundays the day to race, for a modest fee, against the clock, a friend or the whole family. Group racing arrangements can be made for other days.

The resort last year added some features to its terrain parks and will be adding a few more new items this year. Last year Katie’s Catwalk became the newest, steepest, and narrowest downhill trail at Big Powderhorn and the resort has bought a special snow gun just to blow snow into this tight area. A popular option at Big Powderhorn are the three cozy trailside huts for private lunches or get-togethers on the mountain during the ski day. The resort provides the fire, grill, charcoal and staff to transport the food to the huts (for a fee of $20). Contact: 800-501-7669, bigpowderhorn.net.

Wisconsin

Granite Peak in Wausau has an all-new ski area. With seven new lifts, including the Midwest’s longest high-speed chairlift, Granite Peak has become one of the top ski resorts in the Midwest. A state-of-the-art snowmaking and groomer fleet, new terrain park, more tree skiing glades, children’s area and demo center give visitors additional options.
Contact: 715-845-2846, skigranitepeak.com.

Sugarloaf Mountain

by: Elizabeth VanderSpek

Maine’s Carrabassett Valley is home to Sugarloaf Mountain, a ski destination like no other. Standing at 4,237 feet, Sugarloaf boasts the most vertical skiing in Maine and New Hampshire and the only lift-serviced, above-treeline skiing in the East. Ride up to the summit on the Timberland Quad to get see the dramatic views of Vermont, New Hampshire, Canada and majestic Mount Katahdin before plunging into the snowfields of Sugarloaf.

Serious skiers will find single- and double-blacks in Sugarloaf’s natural King Pine Bowl, where a variety of slopes await. Haulback is partly groomed and partly bumped, Ripsaw is always left untreated, and Widowmaker and Flume are favorites of the U.S. Ski Team. Cruisers will love Ramdown and Tohaul.

At the top of Central Mountain, with the steepest terrain and longest continual fall line in the New England, you will find even more choices. You can cruise the legendary Narrow Gauge, the only trail in the East that can host any FIS alpine event, including World Cup Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Or head toward the thrilling chutes, trails and glades on the Spillway. Don’t miss Skidder, Sugarloaf’s signature bump run, and other favorites on Central Mountain.

Sugarloaf’s SuperPipe will give you all the tools you need to become an expert on the slopes with the same specifications that are required for professional competitions like the Olympics. In fact, 2006 Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott honed his snowboarding skills right here. If these facts are intimidating, don’t worry; Sugarloaf has a second half-pipe that is geared to those who are still learning.
While Sugarloaf caters well to more experienced skiers and riders, there are plenty of opportunities for beginners to gain confidence in their sport. The Birches and Double Runner are two areas of gently sloping terrain that are perfect places to improve your skills before trying the green and blue trails on the Whiffletree section of the mountain.

This season Sugarloaf has invested $4 million to increase its snowmaking capacity by as much as 20 percent, improve grooming, upgrade facilities and create a new surface learning lift. Money has also been put into expanding Bullwinkles, Sugarloaf’s mid-mountain lodge, to include a table service restaurant. The Sugarloaf Outdoor Center is undergoing major expansion and renovation to increase capacity and add an Olympic-size skating rink to the existing skiing and snowshoeing facilities. If you haven’t been to Sugarloaf in a while, now is the time to see how they’ve enhanced the skiing and snowboarding experience.

In addition to skiing facilities, the Sugarloaf Sports and Fitness Center and Carrabassett Valley’s Anti-Gravity Complex offer a wide variety of indoor sporting options. The No. 1 golf course in Maine since 1985 is at Sugarloaf, and there are hiking and biking opportunities with access to the Appalachian Trail. World-class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing are also readily available at Sugarloaf, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Crystal Clear Views in Northern Lower Michigan

On Michigan’s Western coast, four hours north of the Windy City, ski and winter sports enthusiasts will find the Midwest’s Number One Ski Resort, according to Ski Magazine – Crystal Mountain.

Sitting on 1,500 acres, Crystal Mountain is a family-run operation, continuously held by the Petritz family since 1966. Tradition and harmony with nature are held dear by the family, as witnessed by the attention to detail found throughout the resort, focus on environmentally friendly practices and absence of over-the-top commercialism that’s all too familiar at mega-ski resorts.

Though Crystal receives on average 120 inches of snow annually, the resort has continually increased its snowmaking capability over the last decade, thus reducing its reliance on natural snowfall and improving the rate that it can open and maintain skiable terrain. The 126 snow guns can blanket the mountainside whenever Mother Nature doesn’t live up to her end of the bargain.

Nine lifts carry skiers to 45 skiable slopes, 27 of which are lighted for nighttime skiing. For boarders, three terrain parks, Super Park, Halfpipe and Giggles round out the fun. Abilities of all age levels are welcome here – 25 percent of slopes are Green, 49 percent Blue and 26 percent Black. If cross-country skiing is your bag, 40 kilometers of groomed trails await.

Accommodations for All Budgets
One special aspect of Crystal is the extraordinary assortment of lodging choices for groups. Set within pedestrian-friendly “neighborhoods,” choices include standard hotel rooms, condominiums, cottages, or mountainside or mountaintop townhomes or resort homes for rent. Those who enjoy true ski-in/ski-out accommodations will fall in love with the mountaintop townhomes, where you can literally walk out your back patio and ski down the mountain.

What’s New?
Resort developments are ongoing, including a $10-million expansion announced this past January. The centerpiece of the expansion is a new 18,500-square-foot, full-service destination spa with 12 treatment rooms, private locker rooms, a manicure and pedicure area, and an outdoor meditation garden. Residentially, The Bungalows at Crystal Glen are in the works, featuring ski-in, ski-out accommodations at the base of Buck slope. These new projects represent the latest steps in Crystal Mountain’s master plan, Emergent Directions. Upon completion of the spa, Bungalows, and an alpine slide, Crystal will have invested over $50 million in resort expansion and improvements in the last decade.

For more information on Crystal Mountain, call 800-968-7686, or visit www.crystalmountain.com.